In September 2024, Strite’s vision came to fruition with the opening of Birdhouse Books and Gifts in Burnet Road’s Northwest Center.
The backstory
As an avid reader averaging an estimated 100 books a year, Strite decided an indie bookstore was the perfect fit for her local business desires. The inspiration behind the name of the shop came from her goal to create a comforting atmosphere in the space.
“I want people to come in and feel like they can breathe, like they're maybe sitting in the tree, reading a book, the birds are chirping around you and there's light filtering through the leaves and you can feel that peace,” Strite said.
“I think it's healing to little Abby to have representation in a book for 10 to 12 year olds of queer normative worlds,” Strite said. “It's something that I certainly didn't have and I'm very I'm overjoyed whenever a kid gets excited about seeing themselves normalized in books and that's what we're trying to do here.”
Readers of all genres can find at least one book to peak their interest with the storefront’s sections which include nonfiction, fiction, biography, memoir, cooking, sexuality, history of race, racism and colonization and books featuring cats.
Customers who aren’t readers can also check out the store’s gift options which range from bookmarks and unique candles to soaps, greeting cards and birdhouses.
“If they're not local, they have to be queer, women, people of color or some combination of those three things,” Strite said. “The focus is that we're lifting up artists and makers who are traditionally marginalized, who are maybe not the first ones on the distributors' websites and things that maybe everybody has.”
The bookshop even has its own mascot, Mae Mae, a small Yorkie who draws in customers by peeking through the shop’s front windows. Passerbys can enjoy watching her stand guard at the front door or go inside to give her some pets while they shop.
With all the business’s community ties, Strite said she has a mountain of favorite memories since opening. She shared one in particular about an author, Drew Edwards, who was promoting his graphic novel at the store.
“His wife and his baby were here and his little baby, during his book signing, took her first steps,” Strite said. “Everybody in the store turned and cheered her on. It was just one of the most beautiful human moments that makes you feel like this is life. This is what it's about. This is community.”
Books Strite is currently reading:
Hot Desk by Laura Dickerman
Mother-Eating by Jess Hagemann
Operation Bounce House by Matt Dinniman
- 5925 Burnet Road, Austin
- www.birdhousebooksatx.com
